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Business Groups, American Energy Producers & States Call for Passage of House Hydraulic Fracturing Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C.,
November 20, 2013 -
Today, the House of Representatives will consider of H.R. 2728, the Protecting States’ Rights to Promote Energy Security Act. Over 27 groups from across the country are calling for passage of this bipartisan legislation that protects American jobs and prohibits the Interior Department from enforcing federal hydraulic fracturing regulations in any state that already has in place.

What They’re Saying about H.R. 2728:

Groundwater Protection Council“When it comes to regulating the oil and gas industry, states have the obligation to protect the ‘waters of the state’, the statutory authority, appropriate rules, dedicated staff, and resources to manage the exploration and production process. We believe this process works and should continue.”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce“H.R. 2728 would ensure BLM defers to states and tribal nations with existing regulatory regimes, while allowing a federal backstop for those lacking such regulations. While energy producers must comply with applicable state regulations when operating on federal lands, they must also navigate the moribund federal permitting process. As such, oil and natural gas exploration and production on federal lands has grown increasingly inefficient, preventing Americans from realizing job creation, economic growth, and increased energy security that accompany additional domestic production. The additional time required by the federal permitting process, in addition to existing regulatory requirements, increase the cost of production and makes operations on federal lands less economical than on state and private lands.”

National Association of Manufacturers“The NAM supports H.R. 2728 because it will allow states to regulate hydraulic fracturing based on local geology and conditions. We continue to believe that this bill will avoid long delays in the federal permitting process and substantial costs associated with another layer of federal regulations. Natural gas is critical to manufacturers and plays an important role in the revitalization of our manufacturing sectors.”

National Federation of Independent Business“More than ever, small businesses need a sensible regulatory scheme that removes unnecessary barriers to grow. NFIB’s November 2013 Small Business Economic Trends survey reported that the single most important problem facing small business owners is government regulations and red tape. H.R. 2728 addresses this problem directly by removing the regulatory hurdles that the federal government places in energy production.”

American Petroleum Institute“We support the passage of H.R. 2728, the Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act, because states have and will continue to be in the best position to regulate and this bill acknowledges the strong role state regulation of oil and natural gas operations, including hydraulic fracturing, has played in this new energy revolution.”

Texas Oil and Gas Association“TXOGA member companies produce a quarter of the nation’s oil, a third of its natural gas and account for one-fourth of the U.S. refining capacity. Our members support state regulation of the industry, which the State of Texas has done successfully for almost 125 years. The oil and gas industry is effectively regulated at the state level and there is no scientific or historic justification for federal encroachment. Therefore, TXOGA supports H.R. 2728, the Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act”

Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association“More than 100,000 Oklahoma wells have been hydraulically fractured over the past 65 years without a single documented instance of contamination to ground water or drinking water. This is because state ground water regulations were developed long before hydraulic fracturing began and have proven more than sufficient in regulating the practice. Oklahoma’s first commercial oil well was drilled in 1897, 10 years before statehood.”